My eyes widened, and I felt the surge of familiar heat to my legs and cheeks. It weakened my knees, and I held my breath as he stepped forward to me, his hand touching my shoulder, and he moved behind me.
There was a mirror on the right, and he moved me slowly to it, leaning his face so it was right beside mine. He made sure his skin teased mine, and I closed my eyes a little, my lips parting. "Imagine it," he said, bringing up the dress to my body, then holding down the waist, his thumb lightly grazing my waist. I swallowed. "I really can't..." "Add this to my bill," he said. He wasn't talking to me anymore, but to the attendant who nodded immediately. He moved his face into my neck, so when he spoke, the movement of his lips teased my neck. I swallowed, feeling my chest heaving, and I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. His scent filled me as I hoped mine did him, and I made a mental note to find out if scent was a huge part of wolf attraction. I couldn't even remember the scent of any man. "I didn't get your name yesterday," he said, moving. I swallowed, then turned to meet his eyes. They were heavily laden with intensity, and I unconsciously held on to his hand so I wouldn't fall from the fluidness of my feet. "My name..." "Mhm," he murmured, then moved closer to my earlobe, his lips teasing the sensitive skin there. "What am I supposed to moan when you make me feel this way?" It gladdened me to know that I hadn't been the only one to feel it. The magnetic attraction that drew me to him, that it wasn't one sided. "C...Cora." He smiled against my face. "Cora. Intoxicating." I swallowed, then suddenly realized where we were, with the other girls looking at us, murmuring amongst themselves. I immediately pulled away, fighting the feeling of emptiness I felt. "This is..." He smiled wider. "Fancy seeing you here again. Before you returned the jacket." I swallowed. "I was going to. I just...found out I knew only your name. I wasn't sure how to contact you." He nodded, taking a step towards me. "You are wearing that dress to the coming of age tomorrow, am I right?" I swallowed. "You bought it..." "Then come to me in it." He wrapped his hand around my waist and brought me to him, his hands teasing my face as my body met his. "Right after the ceremony, I will wait for you at the garden." I swallowed. Hell, there was nowhere else I would rather be. "The garden?" "Where we met. Poetic, don't you think?" I nodded as he slowly released me, his eyes holding mine in an entrapping gaze. "Come to me. I will skip the after party for you." Against myself, I broke into a smile, then nodded, my heart thumping, my hair bouncing as I did. Without warning, he leaned forward and placed a small peck on the top of my neck, sending sinful reverberations down to my feet and without another word, walked away, the attendant quickly following. The attendant came back with the dress and handed it to me in a large bag. There were a pair of shoes inside, and a small card. "Love, Keanne." I smiled again, feeling the butterflies bubble up in my stomach. "So she is now chasing after men because she knows her mate will not accept her?" I turned to the girl. She was on the other side of the aisle with another girl, and she was looking straight at me, her eyes thin with judgement. "Did you see them? They are not even mates and...disgusting." I swallowed and lowered my head, feeling the butterflies gradually die down. "I know she is desperate. An omega like her is mostly always mateless or...rejected. Now she is looking for rich guys to run after." "Shut up, will you?" I turned and Ava was standing there, hands on her waist, her bobbed hair pulled back. The girls scoffed at her and turned away, without saying another word. But I knew they were right. Omegas that descended from a long line of omegas were generally hated, and even if they were lucky enough to have mates, they always ended up rejected. Without a word, we left the mall. I caught a glimpse of Keanne as he stood by the door of his car, talking to someone on the phone. He was smiling, his smile as breathtaking as ever, and he turned suddenly, meeting my eyes. He smiled even wider, then gave me a wink, before entering the car. "That's what they mean," I murmured to myself, noticing just how flashy his car was. On the plate number was his name, and I swallowed. The rest of the day passed almost in a blur, the dress still in the box. I couldn't bring myself to open it, wondering if I even deserved to. The coming of age was an introduction to society, but what if that society hated me? KEANNE Morning came, and the entire pack was busy with setting up the ceremony. It was held by full moon in the large pack square. All sorts of food, drink and entertainment was in place by the time the full moon came out, and the new wolves got ready to be introduced. I adjusted the shirt I had settled on. It was a slightly loose turtle neck shirt with long sleeves. It was black and had heavy gold buttons to the side. I wore an equally dark trouser, knowing just how good the colour looked against my skin. My hair fell in the brushed and laid back style, and I had grown it out longer. "Ready?" Father asked as I emerged, his hands in his pockets. I only gave a slow nod, then quickly took a sip of wine from my father's glass. I knew it irritated him, but I probably enjoyed his irritated face. The ceremony was elegant, and I sat back, my face set in a neutral frown, in my hand a glass. Father sat beside me, and the gamma on the far end. The other dignitaries of the pack filled the place, and the ceremony started. The priestess lined up to anoint them as they introduced themselves, before the customary dance. I watched, my eyes almost sleepy. What I was looking forward to was what would come after, not now. I had seen her, ethereal in that red, and I prayed I was the only one who noticed just how much she stood out. I could see how she would look in my bed, her skin tinted and flushed, her lips half parted, gasping my name. I couldn't wait for the ceremony. I met her eyes as she danced and a small smile played on her lips. The rhythm was slow, and they took turns, matching with different males as they danced in succession. Suddenly Father stood up, and the music started to die down. He gestured for it to continue, and I noticed he left his walking stick behind. Without a word, he took Cora's hand as she twirled right into him, then gave her a warm smile. Her eyes widened on realizing who he was, but he only laughed, bringing one hand to her waist. "Can I have this dance?" Father asked her, then without waiting for an answer, he started to move with her. Everyone left the dance floor as they occupied it. "What is your name?" He asked as he gently pushed her again, then let her twirl back to him. "Cora Crawford," she replied, her hand coming to his shoulder. He smiled again as he took a step closer to her. The dance soon finished, and he brought her hand to his lips and left a small peck on it. My glass shattered in my hand from the force I had been exerting on it, and my lips parted as the glass cut into my hand. I watched with burning rage as my father smiled at her again, then walked back to occupy the seat next to me. Cora turned to me, her eyes wide with realization. The son of the man who had just kissed her hand. The man who she was supposed to meet later. My eyes fixed on hers, and in them were a different kind of intensity. I blinked, pushing my hand away so the blood dripped on the floor. She saw it, and I had fully intended for her to. "Why did you do that?" I asked, turning to father, who still had a satisfied smile on his face. My voice was steely, and the pain from my hand cut through my entire arm. Father smiled, then pointed at her, and a possessiveness laced his tone unlike any I had heard ever in his voice. "I want her."My eyes widened, my fingers clenching into the shards of already broken glass settled in my palm. "Don't be a hypocrite, dad. Have you forgotten about the mate bonds?"He laughed. "I definitely haven't, and that is part of it, really. She is an omega. Not just any omega, but the Crawford's omega." He gave a small, dark chuckle as his eyes fell on her again. She had her back to us, and she was talking to someone, her tone low.I swallowed as I followed my father's line of sight, feeling bile rise up my throat. I didn't think I was possessive about her, or we even had anything I ought to feel possessive about.But for some reason, reasons I didn't want to acknowledge or think about right now, I found the vile throes of anger clenching on my heart. It wasn't near as feral as when I had caught Kiara cheating on me, but right now all I wanted was to see blood. On the floor, in my hands. I wanted to paint the pack with blood and it didn't matter whose. It would be great if it is the blood
KEANNEI watched the flowers as they lit up under the moonlight and the combined lights of the pack. My hand bled, but I still held a cup of whiskey wrapped in my fingers, the glass stained with long lines of my blood. I watched the flowers, anger brewing at the back of my mind, my body running cold. I hated what this anger was doing to me.She was just a girl. One of so many I had to choose from. Normally, if I didn't get a girl, which happened very, very rarely, I wouldn't even remember her face within twenty minutes.But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Cora in that dress, her body fitting the silk like it was made with her in mind, her hair tumbling down in those gorgeous waves....I bit down hard on my lips, closing my eyes. And to think she would belong to my father, and occupy the space my mother wanted till she took her last breath. The space that giving birth to me had taken away from her because my father simply could not accept me. To think that it had to be Cora.Sudden
I closed my eyes as the Whiskey burned down my throat, my chest feeling slightly constricted. My heart felt on fire, and the Whiskey seemed to only add to it. I cussed under my breath, my eyes closing again. I needed to forget her now. And push my father to the back of my mind.This is what he wants, and I was dead set on not giving it to him.After a few minutes, however, I found my eyes opening again, the agitation filling me up. I grabbed the cup of Whiskey, flinging it across the room to the wall where it shattered with an ungraceful sound, the pieces bouncing off the wall and landing everywhere.I swallowed hard, bringing my hands to cover my face. It was a foul attempt, as her dress was still tightly clasped around my hand.I swallowed hard, watching it for a moment, her eyes under that moonlight, ladden with tears and looking up to me that helplessly...weirldy it haunted me. It haunted my soul and I hated her for that too.I unwrapped the dress, then let it fall to the ground.
KEANNEI put a hand on the right sode of my neck, my chest slightly heaving from the exertion. The punching bag in front of me was still swinging around from the last punch, the one where I had chaneled all of the anger I felt inside into it.It did feel much better now.Pushing my shirt, a black vest more precisely, to peel it away from my skin, I walked back to the small table to grab the bottle of water I had set there earlier.I would need the relief to go about the rest of my day. Just before I reached out however, someone else grabbed, then pulled it away from my reach.I gave a small sigh, then extended my hand to my father, urging him to give it back."Someone doesn't seem too happy."I grabbed the water, then opened the cap, pouring some over my hair. I shook my head to get rod of the extra, then pushed my fingers through the strands to peel it back."The childish antic does not look good on you."He chuckled, adjusting his sitting position on the table I started to walk back
CORAI kept my head low as Alpha Blake walked away, then brought back a bottle of wine and two glasses."Here. It's a toast."I swallowed, meeting his eyes. He looked happy, but I needed no soothsayer to see the wicked glint behind his eyes, the darkness behind his smile. I felt a cold chill run down my spine as I watched him, then bit down on my lips as he gave me a cup.He had filled it halfway, and he let his gaze hold mine in place, urging me to drink.His right hand held his own glass while the bottle dangled loosely from his right hand. I slowly moved the glass, then clinked it with his like he obviously wanted me to.His smile grew wider, and I closed my eyes, gulpimg the entire thing."Easy, Cora. There will be a lot to celebrate and a lot to toast to."I nodded. "Y..yes."He smiled again, then droppeed the bottle and glass away before he walked back to me. "I will walk you around my humble abode. I would have loved for you to meet my son, but oh well."I swallowed. "Too bad."
CORAI stared into his eyes, my breath slightly hitching. His eyes were lightly clouded with hate, his eyes thin, and I raked my fingers through my hair, my lips sucked in."But, Alpha....""There are no buts, Cora. If indeed you want to marry me, then you will have to stay from him."I swallowed as he suddenly moved closer, his eyes finding mine. He was beautiful, and nothing about his face could indicate that he could have a child as old as Keanne.But he was an alpha, on second thought, and if he so wanted, he could be immortal.He brought his right hand to softly cup my face, his thumb running along my cheek, his eyes fixed on mine."I do not mean to come off as scary, but I think everything will slowly come to light on its own. For now, just obey me.."I nodded rapidly, swallowing hard. Slowly, he leaned forward, and I closed my eyes tight. He leaned, then left a small kiss on the right corner of my lips.It was not as euphoric as when Keanne cupped my face, or even the anticipat
KEANNEMy fingers reached for the open buttons of the classic black shirt, and I parked the car, my eyes turning to the club. I have been here thrice already since I came, and here I am, again.But I can barely lie to myself that I don't need it.I grabbed the keys to the exclusive suite I had brought the first time, well not because I didn't like all the bodies downstairs, but for that night, I wanted to be alone in a distracting place.I stepped out of the car and a valet ran up to me, then collected the keys and immediately started to walk towards the car.I made my way to the front door, my eyes meeting the security."Keanne," I said simply, and he immediately moved, opening the door for me.I sighed once I got in. The colors reflecting off the walls, the loud giggles competing with the music. I swallowed, then walked down to the bar. Once my drinks were ready, I directed him to the upstairs inner balcony seat I would wait in till I eventually got tired, and he nodded immediately.
CORAKeanne was more than I imagined. His lips moved against mine with the fluidness of an expert, his hand seeking a home right in the small of my back, as he pulled me further, his other hand moving around my neck, drawing small designs on the skin.I gasped a little as he leaned away, then bit down on my lower lip, before claiming them again. I swear, I could have fell. Or no. I could have dived head first. And even when he pulled away, his breaths a little raspy, mine all over the place, I looked up to him with the gait of someone who still needed more. Who still begged for more.He gave a small smile against my lips, as he moved, kissing the edges, driving me a little crazier each time. It felt like it would not matter. If I never see him after this one time, he would leave a mark on me, and no one would be able to come this close.Suddenly, with insane speed, I found myself pinned to the bed, his body slightly hovering above mine. The strings had come loose, and his hands traced